They call it Deadtown: the city’s quarantined section for its inhuman and undead residents. Most humans stay far from its borders — but Victory Vaughn, Boston’s only professional demon slayer, isn’t exactly human…
Vicky’s demanding job keeping the city safe from all manner of monsters is one reason her relationship with workaholic lawyer (and werewolf) Alexander Kane is in constant limbo. Throw in a foolhardy zombie apprentice, a mysterious demon-plagued client, and a suspicious research facility that’s taken an unwelcome interest in her family, and Vicky’s love life has as much of a pulse as Deadtown’s citizens.
But now Vicky’s got bigger things to worry about. The Hellion who murdered her father ten years ago has somehow broken through Boston’s magical protections. The Hellion is a ruthless force of destruction with a personal grudge against Vicky, and she’s the only one who can stop the demon before it destroys the city and everyone in it.

Deadtown by Nancy Holzner
December 29, 2009
Urban Fantasy
Paperback, 336 pages
Ace
Book received from author

Victory Vaughn is the only professional demon exterminator in Boston. When people have demon issues, she is the one they call. Vicky herself is Cerridorion, someone who is able to shift into any animal three times a month – with a catch – if she bears children, she will no longer carry the ability to shift. Her sister, Gwen, gave up her abilities and the two come to blows during the book deciding what is the better route to take.

Vicky is not alone in her supernatural abilities though. She is kept in company by werewolves and vampires, just to name a few. The supernaturals started coming out of the closet after a mutated virus hit Boston out of nowhere. Every human in the entire city died in a matter of seconds. The only ones not affected – vamps, wolves and Vicky. Suddenly, the humans needed the supernaturals to help the devastated city, and the nickname “Deadtown” was created. As if that wasn’t enough to deal with, three days later, zombies began to rise.

Even though the supernaturals become known to the public, they still don’t have equal rights. The movement is led by the good looking werewolf, Alexander Kane, who, as Vicky says is her “companion.” They are not super serious but they hang out on occasion, and by hanging out I mean they do dinner and the fun stuff afterwards.

Vicky has a personal demon of her own, one that killed her father and one that she carries part of around with her. The demon, called The Destroyer, is not satisfied and after killing one of Vicky’s clients shortly after leaving his house, she knows he is back. With the help of Daniel Costello, a Boston police officer, she is determined to keep the city safe while battling her own demon – and feelings for a very cute blue-eyed police officer.

Deadtown sets up the kind of urban fantasy world I like – the supernaturals are out to the public, and now we get to see how they are accepted. I love to read about the political struggles and the behind the scenes fights that ensue. The supernaturals are by no means close to getting equal rights much to the dismay of Kane who is very invested in their cause. He has his agenda and for most of the book he uses Vicky to further that agenda. The reader never gets to see his romantic side or why Vicky would be attracted to him, except for his good looks – he is 31 with silver hair, quite a fox! I don’t think she wants anything necessarily serious or more than what she has, but I can’t even see why she wants that.

Besides the political upheaval, Vicky is battling an extremely dangerous Hellion, one that cooked her father from the inside out when she was younger. The Hellion is being controlled by a sorcerer, and Vicky must figure out who is in charge before the Hellion can assemble an army to invade Boston. Daniel is investigating the murder of her client, who Vicky is sure The Destroyer killed. Daniel has that smile and good nature that gives Vicky the butterflies in her stomach. The book stands great as it is, but I think it could have been even better with more romantic tension between these two.

My favorite aspect of the book is Vicky. There are many instances of men trying to bully her around, even Kane, and she does not give in. She stands up for what she believes in and never falls under peer pressure, and I find that quite admirable in this heroine. Losing her father to The Destroyer, has greatly affected her life, and she lives everyday trying to honor her father in some way. As she says:

Nothing would make me give him up. Nothing. Not even Kane, so devoted to his cause that he’d sacrifice anything for it. I wondered if that included me.

She is smart, she has patience (which is a must since she has a zomibe intern) and she is determined to live her life her way.

This is Nancy Holzner’s debut in urban fantasy and it is a strong, welcome addition to the genre. Deadtown is a very solid start to what I hope are many adventures to come with Vicky.

Rating: Four Stars

Recent Reviews:
The Booksmugglers – 7 – Very Good
Fiction Vixen – 4 Stars
J. Kaye’s Book Blog – Five Stars
Literary Escapism – Really enjoyed
Lurv A La Mode – 3 1/2 Scoops
Smokin Hot Books – 4 Smokin’ Smooches

Nancy Holzner’s Website